Seventeen

When he was five years old his mom took him down to the round corral

To watch his dad work the young horse they called Smokey man did that horse buck

But his old dad just sat up there and rode him like there was nothin' to it

Right then the boy gained a whole new respect for the man

And from that day on he knew that when he grew up he wanted to be a cowboy

Seventeen cowboys' dreams ain't on fixin' fences

Once he's seen 'em ride in old Cheyenne

Ranch routine and his old man's schemes

This ain't where his heart is but you know his daddy understands

Noonday comes father and son sit down and eat their dinner

Beneath that big Wyoming sky

His daddy knows he's gotta let him go the boy can't be a winner

If he don't spread his wings and fly

And in his mind he's riding bulls down in Las Vegas

Soon he'll be on a train that leads to Santa Fe

Sweet voice of freedom echoes down the ages calls another cowboy on his way

Fencin's done and the morning sun finds him packed and ready

Momma kissed his cheek and then she went inside

His old man well he shook his hand said son you ride 'em pretty

Didn't see the tears that his momma cried

And in his mind he's riding...